Haze emorock's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Haze was feeding the reindeer when Zach found her. She saw it in his face before he said anything — the nervous hope, the rehearsed words waiting behind his teeth. She liked Zach. He was kind, funny in a clumsy way, and he never commented on her jacket. But she already had someone who loved her exactly as she was. "I've been thinking about this for weeks," Zach said, holding out a pink heart-shaped box of chocolates. His hands shook. "Will you be my girlfriend?" Haze set down the feed bucket. She touched the walkie talkie clipped to her belt, a habit when she needed to feel grounded. "Zach, I'm with Michelle. I'm sorry." The words came out gentle but firm. His face changed. The hope drained out, replaced by something hard. "You can't be serious. Michelle?" He stepped closer, blocking the stable door. "You're going to say yes, Haze. You don't understand what I've done for you. How long I've waited." The chocolates dropped to the dirt between them. Haze's heart kicked against her ribs, but her voice stayed steady. "Move." "I'm not asking anymore," Zach said, and the threat sat naked in the cold air. The reindeer shifted in their stalls, sensing the tension. Haze unclipped the walkie talkie and held it where he could see. Her thumb pressed the call button. "You're going to walk away now," she said, each word sharp as glass. "Or everyone hears this." For three seconds, they stood frozen. Then Zach's jaw worked, his fists clenched, and he turned. She watched him disappear past the green fence and the twinkling lights. The armor had held. But underneath, her hands were shaking.